Recently, Dr. Xu He, Secretary-General of the China University Ecological Civilization Education Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the Alliance) and the Vice President of the Institute of Ecological Civilization of Nankai University and Dr. Guo Yongyuan of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics visited China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), exchanged ideas on “Green Campus” and Eco-civilization related topics with the heads of CBCGDF.

Dr. Xu He first introduced the Alliance system. This system is an eco-civilization education alliance established by Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University jointly initiated, to actively advocate ecological civilization education. The education advocates by the Alliance is a kind of system based on the whole society covering early childhood, elementary/middle schools and colleges/universities education, as well as grown-ups and social education and cadre training.

The schools and the campuses are the most closely related to education. For the concept of “Green Campu”, Dr. Guo Yongyuan said: “The current standard is for the ‘resource-saving and environment-friendly’ two types of campus framework. The standard, such as a standard could be called as ‘surface green’’, that is, a superficial, intuitive green, such illusion or false perception is ubiquitous. Because the green campus should not be confined to an external green (for example, the more trees and planted and the green areas are larger), it should not be just one-sided. A true green campus doesn’t just stay on the surface. First of all, “green on the surface” must be a “green” that conforms to the ecological law. Secondly, it must be an education about ecology. In the course of curriculum design, “green education” should be integrated into the education that conforms to the concept of ecological civilization; At the same time should be the focus of green campus construction. The purpose of the green campus is not only to make a small community, a small area have "surface green", but more importantly, to cultivate more ecologically conscious talents and to provide more ecological construction functions for the society; Should have the functions of social services, including direct policy consulting services, proprietary technology research and development, that is, green universities must have green technology, green research; finally, management must have an ecological concept, there must be The management mechanism of the system's ecological perspective to re-adjust and reshape.

Mr. Xiao Qing, the Deputy Secretary-General of CBCGDF introduced to the visitors the group standards for CBCGDF's publication of The Dark and Starry Sky Conservation Areas and Project Standards in 2018, and the relevant work on environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) field that CBCGDF has been conducting. Related work has deepened the understanding of both parties.

On the basis of mutual understanding, CBCGDF and the visitors exchanged views on the “Green Campus Evaluation Criteria – Group Standards”, focusing on the following issues:

First, CBCGDF and the Alliance to jointly publish standards, carry out activities, and how to obtain recognition at the national level.

Second, research on ecological civilization;

Third, the internationalization of ecological civilization.

In response to the issue of internationalization, the two sides discussed the topic of “circular economy”: “Circular economy” is an economic development model characterized by resource conservation and recycling and harmonious with the environment. It emphasizes the organization of economic activities into a “resource-product-renewable resource” feedback process. It is characterized by low mining, high utilization, and low emissions. All materials and energy can be used reasonably and sustainably in this ongoing economic cycle to reduce the impact of economic activity on the natural environment to the smallest possible extent. The “circular economy” model is now increasingly recognized and respected by the world.

Mr. Xiao Qing mentioned that the Western countries now have laws and regulations on the legal framework and details of the circular economy, so that enterprises, consumers and management departments have laws to follow. Dr. Xu He believes that the green campus is actually the most basic, let the youngest generation understand the ecological civilization. Mr. Xiao Qing expressed his approval and shared the case of German electric vehicles: although the current popularity of electric vehicles in Germany is relatively low, in terms of education, Germany even infiltrates the concept of electric vehicles into the level of children; establishing electric vehicles museums in cities. The museums provide young people with access to electric cars through easy entertainment, which is similar to green campus and ecological civilization education.

Mr. Xiao Qing also introduced to the visitors the first “monthly event” of the global green design conference that CBCGDF will launch in Tongzhou District of Beijing at the end of March, which involves “green communities”.

Dr. Xu He said: The existing green community is still focused on "environmentally friendly, resource-saving" and does not involve education. Like “biodiversity”, whether it is species conservation or habitat protection, the concept of “biodiversity” is still vague for the public: first, there is no concept of integration in the education level, and secondly, there is no national level. Integrate biodiversity considerations into the policy planning system. The same is true of “ecological civilization”. The state only has “green development indicators” for performance appraisal standards of various provinces (mainly indicators of performance evaluation with green development as the core. The annual evaluation of ecological civilization construction is implemented according to the “Green Development Index System”, Green Development Index The comprehensive index method is used for calculation. The green development indicator system includes seven aspects, including resource utilization, environmental governance, environmental quality, ecological protection, growth quality, green living, and public satisfaction, with a total of 56 evaluation indicators.

Next, CBCGDF will continue to communicate and further collaborate with the Alliance on “green campus” group standards, green community research and construction.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

(Photo source: Internet)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/8090.html

By / Niu Jingmei